His Excellency with his retinue now set forward from Vienna towards Holland, and proceed two german miles to Entzersdorff. A little before the midway we cross the Danube over a wooden bridge four hundred paces in length, and continue near the banks of the river to the above mentioned town. And as we continued there the following day, I walked down to the banks of the Danube, where it flows under the castle of St. Leopold, near Cloyster Newburg, and in the extreme point of Mons Cetius.
November x.
This day we proceed two German miles and a half further to Stockeran, and there meet C. Schlick, Mr. Stepney, Mr. Montague, and Mr. Gangain, with whom we proceed three miles and a half further to our lodgings at Holibrun. And from thence his Excellency, with the said company, the next morning goes out an hour to Count Sereny’s, there to wait on the King of the Romans, now returning from the campaign on the Rhine. By one a clock the King and Queen arrived at the Count’s, where his Excellency had an audience of both their Majesties; after which they sat down to table, and his Excellency and company dined with the court, and afterwards returned to Holibrun.
November xii.
This day we advance about five miles further in Austria, and then crossing the Teya enter into Moravia, now called Makren, and take up our quarters at Znaim, the Medoslanium of Ptolemy. This is a fair and fortified town, tho of the old fashion, upon the river Teya, which runs hence into the Morawa, antiently the Marus, and with that into the Danube. In the year 1645 this town was taken and pillaged by the Swedes. It has two market places, in each of which is a good fountain; and in one of them the image of the Virgin, erected on a fair pillar, and inscribed with a new sort of Gloria Patri, that is, Lavs Deo, Mariaeqve Virgini, Sanctisque svis. There are likewise several convents, of Capuchines, Dominicans, Jesuits, and Premonstratensians; and it is remarkable for excellent endive.
November xiii.
We stay this day at Znaim, and the day following proceed three German miles to Budwitz, thro pleasant woods of fir, with fertile open feilds. And moving from thence the next morning, three more German miles carry us thro Babitz and Drumna to Pernitz, by a pleasant way, thro a country sometimes open and well tilled; and at other times thro delightful woods of pine or fir, intermixt with juniper and a few birch; but scarce any other shrubs or trees in the whole country. At Pernitz is a convent of Paulins, so called from Sto. Francisco di Paula, a strict order, that eats no flesh nor fish throughout the year. In this place live several Jews, who are bound to wear blue ruffs, as a mark of distinction.
November xvi.
Two German miles thro woods of fir and arable ground bring us to Iglaw. This city, reasonably well fortified, has a large and clean market place, round which the houses have false fronts, and are handsomely painted on the outside with pleasant landskips or histories. At the upper end of it is a statue of the Virgin on a column, like that at Znaim; both seeming to be an imitation of that at Vienna. We bait an hour at Iglaw, and then pass on one German mile to a small village, called Steken. But immediately beyond the wall of Iglaw we pass a river of the same name, and there enter into Bohemia, whence we continue our way over a large lake, with a road cast up betwixt the two branches of it, and delicate woods of fir adorning its banks. This wood is of large extent, and seems to be a continuation of the Sylva Hercynia in this country, now called Behemerwaldt.